Bingham band: Lisa Forsyth profile

In early January, I interviewed Lisa Forsyth, the flute section leader of the Bingham (Utah) High School Marching Band. She always had a lot of energy, and came up with good ideas to improve the group's morale until it became one of the group's best assets. Here is the article that will appear in the Bingham 2012 band yearbook.

Lisa Forsyth:

 Her energy helped the section improve

and become a huge overall asset

By Bruce Smith

Matchup
 
            Lisa Forsyth was a remarkable addition when she became Bingham Marching Band’s flute section leader.
            Her outgoing personality helped turn the section around, and the flutes became a popular part of the 130-person team. She always showed a lot of energy.
            “She did an awesome job,” said band director Darin Graber. “She built section unity and they locked in together. It was such a 180-degree turn from what we had.”
            Her exuberance wasn’t limited to band. Forsyth also competed on the track team in the 100 and 200-meter sprints, which she practiced as a ninth grader when she rushed from South Jordan Middle School to Bingham to make it in time for practice.
            Her role on the band this year was no fluke. To Forsyth, it seemed more like destiny. Her musical story began in seventh grade, when she started playing the flute. She said there had been no real musical background in her family. That year at South Jordan Middle School, she just had to choose an elective and her options were art, band or orchestra.
            “Band sounded kind of cool,” she said. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Ever since I was little, I liked the sound of the flute. It was elegant and it fit me and my personality.
            “It has determined my whole life.”
            Forsyth remembered the scene that changed everything. It was the day the Marching Band visited South Jordan Middle.
            “They played in front of me. It was a whole, big sound and it was amazing,” she said. “It gave me goose bumps and I wanted to be part of it. It was like a big family.”
                She has never lost that excitement. She recognized there were problems in the flute section last year, but she changed it by becoming fast friends with the 10-person group.
            It started at Bingham’s late-summer band camp. Forsyth said it was one of her favorite memories of the year. She tried to figure out each person’s personality and make a connection with them.
            “It felt great in my heart,” she said. “Mr. Graber wanted us to be more united and good.”
            They group often met outside of school and “hung out.” She said they became a separate family. They had breakfast together before competitions. They played yard camps. During camp, Forsyth even invited the group to her home nearby for lunch and dinner.
            “We didn’t do anything that cost a lot of money,” she said. “We just had fun together.”
            The section actually included seven flutists, two piccolos and one oboe. Zach Weber was the oboe player and his talents were so impressive that he even had a separate microphone.
            “He was our main soloist and was like a rock star,” said Graber.
            Like most band members, Forsyth said the highlight of this season came at the Bands of America competition in St. George.
            “We were walking down the street and all the bands stood up and starting clapping for us,” she said. “It was the best moment in my entire life. I had chills running down my spine that those people actually thought about us. It was amazing moment.”
            She hopes those kinds of feelings continue. She said she plans to attend the University of Utah. She wants to major in the medical field, but minor in music and be part of the Utes’ marching band.
            “I talked to the band director and he said it would be the best experience ever,” she said. “You need something to lighten you up and it’s a lot of fun … like a big family.”
            Don’t be surprised if Forsyth, and perhaps other Bingham band members, join to continue the moment.
            Does that sound familiar? Don’t be surprised if Forsyth becomes a remarkable addition there, too. Time will tell.